Teresa Adams D.M.D.

Soft Touch Dental Care

With sedation dentistry, you'll feel like you slept through your appointment with Ellicott City area sedation dentist Dr. Teresa Adams. You'll likely remember absolutely nothing about your treatment, except waking up to your successful results. Dr. Adams commonly hears her patients say, "I remember taking a pill and the next thing I remember is waking up with my teeth fixed."

Don't let untreated dental problems get you down. Rebuild your confidence with a beautiful new smile. From simple treatments that make a big difference, to more extensive work, unveiling the smile you were meant to have can have profound life-changing effects. Serving the Ellicott City, MD area and offering general dentistry, Dr. Adams can help you develop an affordable treatment plan you'll feel good about.

At Soft Touch Dental Care, serving the Ellicott City, MD area, Dr. Teresa Adams offers Electronic Dental Anesthesia (EDA) to help greatly reduce the sensation of an injection. The EDA is a battery-operated device that sends mild electrical impulses through a finger pad that Dr. Adams holds against the tissue surrounding your tooth. This produces a pulsating, tingling sensation which effectively masks the discomfort of an injection.

Most major credit cards are accepted at Soft Touch Dental Care in the Ellicott City area. Types of cards accepted include Visa, MasterCard, and Discover Card.

A negative self image can be detrimental to many facets of your life. Ellicott City area dentist Dr. Teresa Adams understands the positive life-changing power that a healthy and beautiful smile can bring to you. Here at Soft Touch Dental Care, we don't want you to be embarrassed any longer. Why not take your smile - and even your life - to a new level of self-confidence and beauty?

Request an Appointment With Soft Touch Dental Care

Leesburg DentalAppointments: (703) 777-2442

Jose Loza D.D.S.

Leesburg Dental

You're unique, and you deserve quality, individualized care. Dr. Jose Loza believes your dental experience should blend the best of the personal and the professional. At Leesburg Dental in the Leesburg, Virginia area, we take the time to get to know you and understand your dental needs. Dr. Loza and his staff are dedicated to providing you with top-quality dental care designed exclusively for you.

Dr. Jose Loza, practicing in the Leesburg, VA area, can provide you with the highest quality dental crowns available, and restore your smile. Using state-of-the-art materials and cutting-edge techniques, Dr. Loza can make your smile look healthy and natural again.

Leesburg area cosmetic dentist Jose Loza, D.D.S. has extensive experience creating beautiful smiles. They're one of the first things people notice about you.

Our professional team will be happy to discuss your aesthetic dentistry options. The attractive results you'll get from Leesburg Dental can change your life!

Dr. Jose Loza has a gentle touch and provides comfortable cleaning for a whiter smile. Offering general dentistry in the Leesburg, Virginia area, Dr. Loza assures you that a bright, healthy smile is the result of regular, preventative, professional dental cleanings.

Four Questions Your Dentist Wishes You Would Ask

The technology and treatment options for consumers of dental care have greatly improved over the last 20 years. The new dentistry now provides you with the opportunity of maintaining your natural teeth throughout your life. One of the ways this is accomplished is by referral to a dental specialist to treat specific dental problems.

When dentists refer you to a specialist, your understanding of the problem and decision for treatment is vital in determining a specialized dental plan. The plan for your dental health and your general dentist's overall goals often depend on these specialized resources.

When you are referred to a dental specialist, he or she becomes a part of your dental team. Although your specialist will give you information about the reasons for the referral and the treatment, there are also some active steps you can take to increase your participation in the dentistry treatment and healing process.

A query of dental specialists indicates that there are some questions that they would like you to ask to enhance the treatment outcomes they seek as a result of your dental plan. Answers to the following questions will often augment the information provided by your general dentist and enable you to clarify any further questions you may have about the specialized treatment you are receiving.

What is the cause of the condition that you are treating?

What treatment gives you the best overall outcome and how will it help you?

What can you do after treatment to help the healing process?

What can you do to control the condition in the future or make sure it
doesn't happen again?

These four questions will help you gain insight into the disease process that
led to the need for dental care treatment and the prevention and self-care measures you can incorporate into your life to avoid future problems. With this information, you can also work with your general dentist and the dental team to maintain your dental health plan.

Specialized dental care for your dental needs is one of the ways the new dentistry has brought innovations in diagnosis and treatment to benefit consumers.

By Brian DesRoches, PhD

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.

What Occurs In Your Mouth During A Dental Care Examination

During a dentistry examination, the dentist examines the mouth mucosa (soft tissues) for any abnormalities or pathology (including oral cancer), the teeth for tooth decay (dental caries) or defects, the gum tissues for periodontal (gum) disease, the neck for swollen lymph nodes, the amount of plaque, tartar (dental calculus), and debris on teeth, as well as the need to replace any missing teeth or dental prostheses.

The dental examination begins with a complete dental care and medical history, including medications the patient currently is taking. The skin of the face and neck is examined for any abnormalities, especially pigment changes. The lymph nodes in front and behind the ears, under the floor of the mouth and chin, and the midline of the neck, sides, and back of the neck are palpated to determine if any swelling or tenderness is present.

Inside of the mouth, the lips, cheeks, gums, and roof of the mouth are inspected and palpated. During this process, the tip of the tongue is placed on the roof of the mouth just behind the upper teeth for inspection of the front floor of the mouth and sides of the tongue.

The back floor of the mouth, the area behind the lower wisdom teeth, and the back sides of the tongue are inspected by grasping the tip of the tongue with a small gauze sponge and pulling the tongue forward and toward the opposite side of the mouth.

To inspect the back of the throat, soft palate, and tonsil area (sides of the throat), the tongue is depressed with a dental mirror or tongue blade and then a deep breath is taken by the patient.

To detect swelling on the floor of the mouth, the area inside the mouth is felt with the finger of one hand while a finger of the other hand feels below the chin. Salivary gland enlargement, saliva flow, or xerostomia (dry mouth) are determined by milking the major salivary glands to assess the quantity and consistency of saliva.

Today's dentist has many analytic tools available to pinpoint dental and oral diseases. The basic tools are the dental instruments, lights, and radiographs (X-rays). Depending upon the dentist and the individual's dental needs, additional diagnostic tests are available. Testing for essential proteins and buffering capacity can evaluate the protective ability of saliva.

To determine mouth caries risks, microbiological testing of saliva can measure the level of caries-producing organisms. Periodontal susceptibility tests, which test for the DNA of gum disease-producing organisms, can be performed to assess an individual's risk for gum disease.

If removable dentures are present, they are checked for bite, retention, stability, and overall fit. Dental impressions or models also may be taken to study the mouth and tooth structures to initiate fabrication of prostheses. Photographs may be exposed for a variety of reasons, including before and after treatment comparisons.

The level of oral hygiene and home care practices are assessed and reviewed. Recommendations for home care devices and products may be made. Instruction and methods for maintaining a good oral hygiene regimen can also take place.

Once basic information about oral health status is gathered, the dentist will be better able to discuss dental treatment alternatives that are available.

By Denise J. Fedele, DMD, MS

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.